Ball-bearing hub.



No. 660,467. Patented Oct. 23, I900. P. F. SCHAFFER.

BALL BEARING HUB.

(Application filed Apr 5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

PHILIP F. SQHAFFER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM SOATCHARD, JR., AND JOHN J. MORRIS, OF

SAME PLACE.

BALL-BEARING HUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 660,467, dated. October 23, 1900.

Application filed April 1899. b'erial No. 711,861. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP F. SOHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Bearing Hubs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the acgitudinal section.

companying drawings.

This invention relates to ball-bearing hubs, and particularly to a device of that character in which the spindle or axle is removable from the hub without affecting the adjustment of the bearing.

The invention has for its object to provide a construction of parts whereby the bearingcones are both located upon a spindle and the ball-carrying caps are adjustable in relation to said cones, whereby the bearings can be adjusted independently of the removable axle which is passed through said spindle.

The invention has for its further object to provide an improved construction of ballcarrying cap, whereby the same can be conveniently applied and the clamping of the hub between the forks of a cycle or other vehicle will not in any degree affect the adjustment of the bearings.

V Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central lon- Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the spindle carrying the cones. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the ball-carrying cap. Fig. 4 is an elevation of said cap, and Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the ca shown at the left of Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawlngs.

The letter A designates a hub which may be of any desired construction and provided with suitable flanges A, having therein spokesockets. At opposite ends of this hub ballcarrying caps B are provided and are adjusted within the hub by any desired meansfor instance, an exterior thread B upon the cap engaging a similar thread A upon the inner face of the hub. The bearing-balls B are lo and are retained therein by means of a washer B so that the cap may be removed without danger of displacing the balls from their proper position. The preferred method of securing the cap B in position is illustrated at the left of Fig. l and in Fig. 5, wherein the outer end of the cap is provided with aseries of radial holes or recesses B, while the flange A at the end of the hub is provided with one or more similar holes or recesses A corresponding with those in the hub, and a locking-pin A passed through the holes or recesses in the hub and cap to retain the latter in its adjusted position. Any desired number of these sockets or recesses may be provided, as shown in Fig. 5, and the outer end of the cap is recessed, as at B to permit access' to the inner ends of the pins when it is desired to remove the same from their sockets. As an additional securing means a band A is threaded upon the onter periphery of the flange A and thus holds the lockingpins A against accidental displacement. The cap may, if desired,be provided with an annular flange B, through which a suitable screw B or similar device passes and engages a flange A at the end of the hub, as shown at the right of Fig. l. The outer face of'this cap is further provided with a Wrench-hold B to which a suitable wrench or other tool may be applied for the purpose of adjusting the cap within the hub.

The bearing-cones C may be formed intogral with or located upon a sleeve 0, which extends beyond the opposite ends of the hub and presents ends 0 against which a portion of the fork D or other member of the vehicle to which the hub is applied may be clamped. This clamping is effected by means of the nuts E, located upon opposite threaded ends F of a removable axle F, and said nuts ongage the outer faces of the forks D and force the same into contact with the ends C of the sleeve 0, thus holding said sleeve against rotation and also the axle F, which is independent of said sleeve and removable therefrom.

In assembling this hub-bearing one of the caps B is first applied, then the sleeve G, hearing at opposite sides of its center the cones O, and, finally, the opposite cap B is adjusted and secured in proper adjusted position. Thus the parts of the hub are completely assembled, after which the same may be applied to the forks of a bicycle by passing the axle F longitudinally through the forks and sleeve, where it is secured in position by the nuts E. It will be observed that in clamping the forks together the adjustment cannot possibly be affected, as the extended ends 0 of the sleeve receive the clamping-pressure applied to the forks, and the' cones being in a fixed relation upon said sleeve are not thereby altered in their relation to the bearing-balls. The arrangement of the locking-pins through apertures in the hub and cap eflectually holds the latter in its adjusted position, while the securing-band placed over the heads of the pins prevents any possible displacement of the same in the use of the hub.

It is obvious that the details of construction may be changed in configuration-for instance, the hub and its spoke-sockets-without affecting the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent; is

1. In a ball-bearing a hub provided with radial holes at one end, a threadless hollow axle-sleeve having rigid, integral, inwardlyinclined cones thereon and adapted to project from a hub at each end and bear against the forks or fixed part of the frame, a hub interiorly threaded at its ends, exteriorly-threaded caps provided with holes corresponding with those in the hub, balls arranged Within the caps and upon the cone, an axle slidably fitting said sleeve and projecting through said forks or fixed part of the frame, nuts on the ends of said axle to bind the forks against the ends of said sleeve; a locking-pin adapted to enter any one of said holes, and means for retaining said locking-pin in position, substantially as specified.

2. In 'a ball-bearing hub, the combination of an axle and bearing-cones carried thereby, a hub provided with radial holes at one end, a ball-carrying cap adjustably mounted in the end of the hub and provided with holes corresponding with those in the hub, a locking-pin adapted to enter any one of said holes and means for retaining said locking-pin in position, substantially as specified.

3. In a ball-bearing hub the combination of an axle and bearing-cones carried thereby, a hub provided with radial holes at one end, a ball-carrying cap adjustably mounted in the end of the hub and provided with holes corresponding with those in the hub, a locking-pin adapted to enter anyone of said holes, anda ring secured over said pin and holes; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP F. SOHAFFER.

Witnesses:

R. P. BEVINs, DAVID JARVIS. 

